adidas, eSports Team Vitality Drop AM4 "VIT.01" Sneaker Collaboration
The French gamers receive their own SpeedFactory shoe.
As the eSports market grows ever more crowded, adidas delves even deeper into the mix. Though the sportswear company’s endorsement of Ninja has yet to produce merch, adidas has introduced a limited edition AM4 SpeedFactory sneaker exclusive to French eSports gamers Team Vitality.
Though it’s not the first publicly-available eSports sneaker, the duo’s AM4 “VIT.01” is adidas’ first footwear effort for the eSports crowd — note that it’s not an eSports performance shoe as much as it is a running silhouette made exclusively for Team Vitality. The French team, known for its dominating performances in the Rainbow Six series and Counter Strik: Global Offensive, worked with adidas to develop the design, which serves as a complement to the team’s adidas jerseys.
The AM4 VIT.01 sports a woven monochrome upper emblazoned with black and white geometric shapes that symbolize the wings of the team’s mascot, the bee. A yellow line on the toebox represents the “V for Victory” sign, created when the left and right sneakers are placed next to each other.
Familiar adidas details include a cushioned BOOST sole and reflective grey heel reinforcement to match the Three Stripes branding at the midfoot. Team Vitality branding and logos appear on the tongues, while a “VIT.01” inscription is engraved on the sneaker’s heel. A black sockliner and outsole complete the design with an understated touch.
“We are very happy to be able to continue our collaboration with adidas, a brand with which we share the common values of innovation and competition,” explained Fabien “Neo” Devide, Chairman of Team Vitality. “It confirms that eSports is not just a simple passing fashion but a real social trend that lasts over time.”
Team Vitality is a quality partner, inspiring a whole generation stemming from the eSports culture, a strong sector that we started to preempt more than two years ago,” said Sylvain Bouches, brand manager for adidas in France. “Offering the best of our products and technology to our athletes to help them make a difference in their game, regardless of their discipline, is a priority.”
Shop adidas’ AM4 VIT.01 sneaker on Team Vitality’s web store for €159.99 EUR (approximately $175 USD) while the limited edition sneaker lasts.
Elsewhere in France, Louis Vuitton introduced the bespoke League of Legends WORLDS tournament trophy case.
